The following short extracts are taken from a paper written by Col. D.
A. Robertson, of St. Paul, a scientific amateur fruit grower; one
thoroughly conversant with the subject on which he writes, and to whose
disinterested labors in this branch of industry the State owes much:
"There is no doubt that Minnesota will become a great fruit State,
because wherever wild fruits of any species grow, improved fruit of the
same or cognate species may be successfully cultivated. The indigenous
flora of Minnesota, embraces apples, plums, cherries, grapes,
strawberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries. We may, therefore,
successfully and profitably cultivate the improved kinds of all these
fruits. The conditions of success are only these:--experience, knowledge
and perseverance.
"All kinds of Siberian Crab apples, (which are valuable chiefly for
preserves,) including the improved Transcendant and Hyslop, are
perfectly adapted to our climate; and flourish in almost every soil and
situation where any other tree will grow, and also produce great crops.
"At our State Fair at St. Paul, in October, 1871, there was a
magnificent display of home grown fruits, which would have been
creditable to any State in the West. Among the numerous varieties of
excellent fruit exhibited in large quantities were the following:
"APPLES.--Duchess of Oldenburg, Red Astracan, Saxton or Fall Stripe,
Plum Cider, Fameuse, Haas, Jefferson County, Perry Russet, American
Golden Russet, Yellow Bellflower, Ramsdale Sweeting, Geniton, Lucy,
Winona Chief, Jonathan, Price's Sweet, Westfield, Seek no Further, Sap,
Wagner, Winter Wine Tay, English Golden Russet, Dominie, St. Lawrence,
Pomme Gris, Ben Davis, Sweet Pear, and about thirty other varieties."
RAILROAD AND POPULATION STATISTICS--HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION LAW IN
MINNESOTA: